Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

So 2011 is now over and 2012 has now begun. After a nice relaxing holiday with college friends at the Central Coast between Christmas and New Years where i even managed to read a whole book in a week (and no, it wasn't a little golden book), I got to welcome in the new year with friends at my place. My college housemate and I got to put on a braai (South African for BBQ using a Weber - or should I say 'Wieber'), and even got to experiment in cooking a 1.5kg pork shoulder which to our surprise, and relief, worked out really well. Then we watched the fireworks, played Wii, chatted, laughed, ate waaaay too much and had a really nice chilled out night.


The Braai with our pork and Boerewors


With Don, Bridgie and Kath on NYE

It's both exciting and scary to think about what this year, and the future, has in store. There are so many changes that will be happening in the next few months - preparations for heading back to Thailand, saying goodbyes to friends and family, moving over to Thailand and getting back into life over there. It's been a real blessing however, to be more excited about heading back rather than nervous and scared about the unknown that awaits. Over the past few weeks, God has given me a real peace and excitement about heading back. Many of the things that i imagine would usually cause more stress and anxiety in heading overseas feel like they have been taken away as God has steadily provided churches and friends to be supporting and partnering with me as I head back to Thailand. I've still got more Partnership Development to do which can be a daunting thought at times, but God's constant provisions so far have been a constant reminder to me that he is truly in control and sovereign over all things and will provide all we need. One thing i heard in a recent sermon from the book of James that has been challenging me is to be thinking about how i live my life now in light of Jesus' return. It definitely puts a whole new perspective on the way i view many of my momentary troubles and the way i know i should live my life now.

Over the next couple months before i head, i'm really looking forward to spending time with friends, sharing about the things God has been teaching me and ways he's been working, and the ways i hope that he might be able to use me in the future. I'm also hoping to get in a few more bike rides, sloth nights, maybe try out a few more pork shoulder recipes (or other random recipes i manage to think up) before i head off too. It's looking more likely that i'll be heading off late March now, but i'll keep you posted.

For those of you praying, please pray:
- praise God for the past 2 years that i've been able to spend at college and all that he has taught me
- praise God for his provisions over the past couple months in heading back to Thailand
- for wisdom in how i use my time in the next couple months, that i'll be able to spend quality time with people and be an encouragement to others
- that God will raise up people to be partnering with me in prayer and financially as i head back to Thailand
- that God will be preparing the way as i head back to Thailand with all the practicalities - visas, plane tickets etc

SMBC 2011 End of Year Dinner Video

So, last year it was All the Single Ladies, this year, we decided to do another video for the SMBC End of Year Dinner, which we did to a tune from Mulan, renamed 'SMBC'll Make a Missionary Out of you'. Was heaps of fun filming, recording and editing this years video with lots of great memories from the past couple years. If you want to check it out, you can check it out on youtube here. Hope you enjoy :)

End of College

It's hard to believe that 2 years have come and gone and i'm now finishing up college. It's been an amazing time! i've learnt so much, made some amazing friends, been challenged in ways that i never imagined, and to finish up my time at college i even got to present my project from the same platform as Don Carson at the college Projects Fair. Here's my proof (and no, i haven't just photoshopped my name onto it)


It's been an amazing privilege to be able to take a couple years out to go to college, learn from God's word and be surrounded by an amazing community of people, but now i am ready to get back into the 'real world' and am really looking forward to heading back to Thailand. There's lots of prep that still needs to be done before heading back. Top of the list is to start partnership development and start sorting out all the logistical aspects of getting visas, sorting out budgets and finance, cleaning out my room, getting all my shots, spending time with family and friends etc etc etc. I'd really appreciate your prayers for all of that.

Accepted

The past few months have been busy reading articles, writing my final essays and my project as i finish up at college. I've also had all my interviews with Pioneers and Mission Partners and have now been approved and accepted by them, so it's all systems go in heading back to Thailand. Well, need to finish my project first, but once that's done, i'm sure you'll be hearing from me.

I've also I also got interviewed by Mission Partners recently. The interview can be found here. If you want a laugh, there's also a pretty bad photo of me too.

Learn to Swim Video

So late last year, my friend and I thought we'd enter a video into a Swim Australia competition - and we won! Here's the winning creation

Gospel skit Videos

Here's the first of 4 videos that were used for the gospel skit.
Starting with video 1 - God making the world


Video 2 - but man soon sins and the second video shows just some of the ramifications of our sin.


However,video 3 - God loves us all so much, that he sent his only son,


so that video 4 in the end we have restored relationships.


Unfortunately i don't have a video of the whole presentation that had a combination of skits, songs and narration. But i personally thought the whole thing was a great way of presenting the gospel and made Jesus death for us on the cross come to life and help us realise how much God really does love us.

Back in Sydney

It's hard to believe that i'm now back in Sydney already!! Where did the past 1 1/2 months go? Unfortunately the busyness of 2 short term teams, border runs for visas, packing up and moving out of home, farewell parties and saying goodbye, arriving back in sydney and trying to sort out life back here has meant no recent posts. It's not to say that i haven't still been seeing God doing amazing work in people's lives and seeing God's word at work and changing people's lives, i just haven't had a chance to share about it all.

After the CCC team, we had a few days break before the CCC Melbourne team came along. Even though we had never met any of the team members before, within the first 20mins of meeting them, we knew that this was going to be a team that we would get along really well with and be a lot of fun to work with. We got to head down to Mae Tia and do a gospel skit presentation which had all sorts of singing, multimedia, videos and skits. The team did an awesome job of presenting the gospel there which was really exciting. We also got to go to another small village called Mae Jong and help a local church there with doing a gospel christmas outreach to the village there. It was great to see how us being there to teach the kids and run kids activities in the afternoon could free up so many of our thai friends to be able to put on the christmas party and organise to present the outreach presentation - something which we would never be able to.

The highlight of the second team would have to have been the 3 day Bethany Camp that we ran over New Year. Basically it was like a houseparty/youth camp for the 30+ kids from the Bethany House orphange. For me, it was a really exciting way how we could see the partnership of christians around the world coming together for the gospel. We had churches from Australia helping to finance the camp, the short term team helping run activities, but more importantly helping doing 8 amazing skits to help the kids understand the gospel more, thai friends from our church giving talks, taking music and forming relationships and getting alongside the girls and talking to them about all sorts of issues, as well as our team helping facilitate it all to happen. It really was a great way to see the many ways that we are all part of the same body of Christ and how we all have our various roles to play. What really encouraged me and fired me up after the first team was to see the way that God really worked in so many lives of the team members and others, and how many of them were so challenged by what it means to be a christian in our everyday lives, whether or not we are in Sydney, Melbourne, Thailand or where ever.


Kids and team at the Bethany Camp


Kids at the camp


kids doing activities at the camp


me playing guitar


maggie and denise with the puppet show


no i'm not constipated - just doing the 'chicken dance' after being the 'loser' in a game

After the second team left, it was pretty much all systems go to pack up, clean up and say goodbyes. I don't think there's ever enough time to say goodbyes. It was really tough having to say goodbye to so many that have become such close friends and even feel like family. Many of my thai friends are thinking of my time back in Sydney as a short term mission to sydney before i go back :) I quite liked that take on things :)


Cana House kids doing a dance for me at my farewell


With my Cell group at my farewell

Since coming back, it has been awesome catching up with so many old friends and family. In many ways it feels like i never left as things are still the same, but at the same time, i also feel like there is a whole new life and i know that i have changed so much in my thinking and way of life. I'm still scared about all the reading that i'm going to have to do for college, but am also really excited about getting more into the Bible and preparing myself for future ministry - hopefully back in thailand.

Hopefully over the next few months, i'll post up a few odds and ends about college life, reverse cultural observations etc.

For those praying, please be praying for all those who i've had to leave behind in Thailand, to continue growing in their love and knowledge of God. Please pray for me in my adjustment back to life in sydney and new responsibilities of being a student here. Please pray that i won't forget any of the lessons that God has been teaching me over the past couple years am that i will continue to desire after Him,